Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Minister, you noted the following in the report that you read to us:
...the growing number of offenders involved in organized crime and the drug trade calls for more intensive responses.
I agree with that statement. There's no denying the fact that a growing number of drug offenders are gravitating toward organized crime. I also agree that we are dealing with a serious problem, one that needs to be examined closely.
Even before the new provisions of Bill C-24 were introduced, a major undertaking was launched in Quebec, Opération Printemps 2001. Officials cracked down on drug dealers and organized crime. However, judging from the statistics and from the experts have to say, the drug problem continues unabated. Yet, it's not the money that's lacking to deal with the problem in Quebec. Taxpayers ultimately will be on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars to cover the cost of the “Mom” Boucher or Hells Angels trials.
In Quebec—and I will focus more specifically on Quebec because I represent that constituency, federal legislation appears to be enforced properly and no effort is spared in the process either.
As far as the RCMP is concerned, I contacted various police forces on several occasion, since I'm the party's Justice critic and I've heard about all kinds of goings-on in Quebec. To avoid making any mistakes or implicating anyone other than myself, I will confine my remarks to the situation in my riding.
Specifically, I'm concerned about Saint-Michel-des-Saints and the community of Manouane which has a serious problem with marijuana cultivation. Apparently, the culprits are a gang of five or six individuals known as troublemakers on the reserve. Not surprisingly, the suicide rate among local youths is quite high. The RCMP has been called on several occasions, but has never visited Manouane. I realize that this is a vast territory, but the problem is no less extensive.
I also know for a fact that the RCMP has many a number of raids on private residences where marijuana was being grown. Some officers have told me that the quantities of drugs seized are so large and the operations to combat drugs so vast that other investigations have to be put on hold.
I see that your budget includes an addition $75 million for operating costs over last year. Having observed the increased emphasis on national defence since September 11, I have to wonder if there will be much left for the RCMP to conduct operations in the field, increase staff levels and take the necessary steps to enforce the law. In my view, which is shared by many people in my region, federal legislation is all well and good, but enforcement is left to the provinces. Perhaps the RCMP isn't doing everything it can to enforce federal legislation.
Do you have any plans to increase RCMP staffing levels so that the force can do its job in Quebec? I realize the situation is different in Western Canada where the RCMP presence is much greater. I'll come back to that if time permits. Will the RCMP receive the additional funding required to wage an effective war, not only against organized crime in Quebec, but also against the serious drug problem of marijuana cultivation?